NewStats: 3,259,820 , 8,170,939 topics. Date: Monday, 26 May 2025 at 04:56 AM 5d31d

if you through the streets of Ajiwe in Ajah town, Lagos, during the day, you’ll notice a lot: sprawling residential estates lining the road, mom-and-pop shops, a few POS operators, children playing roadside games, and the bustling “God is Good” motor park.

A more observant erby, however, will spot a dingy, beige-coloured, three-story motel called “Travellers Lodge” beside the park. During the day, it’s a casual spot to watch football, grab a drink at the local bar, or buy a pack of Indomie. But as night falls, the motel becomes more than a safe haven for a weary traveller. It becomes a darker identity: a haven for sex work. It’s a common sight to see young women, some teenagers, with revealing mini-skirts and flashy hairstyles loitering around the entrance and veranda, shaking their hips seductively to the rhythm of loud afrobeat music blaring through the speakers; enticing male customers, including noisy intoxicated men from the streets and bus ‘agberos’ (conductors) from the bar, to their rooms.

I know of this because I have lived in the estate near the surroundings for ten years. I have ed the premises both night and day, and I always knew that something strange was going on. But I never knew the full extent of the happenings there, until I stumbled upon my unlikely confidante, a cleaner named Berenice. Berenice*, who had worked in the lodge since 2020, knew every hidden corner in the motel and had witnessed certain injustices, such as the beating and slapping of these young girls. It was through her s of tearful young girls and the men who paid for their innocence that the true extent of the lodge’s dark secret was revealed.

With her help, my colleague Kabir and I were able to infiltrate the premises and learn more about what the lodge truly is.


The stories of Sweet, Faith and Rose
On different occasions, Kabir and I went undercover to Travellers Lodge as a customer and a prospective sex worker, respectively.

For Kabir, his experience was filled with propositions by three sex workers – Sweet*, Faith* and Rose* – at the bar, a large outdoor space with white plastic chairs and tables. You could buy your drinks at the counter, sit down, and watch the ladies dance on the mounted pillars when they’re available. He was able to convince them to take him to their rooms, where all three women shared their stories.

“It’s just the “hustle””

Sex work for Sweet did not come as a choice but as the only logical explanation towards making money. Her story starts in 2014 when she finished secondary school and came to live with her uncle in Lagos from Rivers State. His wife was rarely at home, and could only be seen once every two weeks. This gave the uncle an opportunity to touch her indecently in her private areas.

“Once that happened to me, I just knew that I had to leave. I spent some years hawking on the streets before a friend introduced me to this place, where I could get more money. Since then, I don’t regret the experience. There are men who come here without even f***ing me. One man came here for two hours, bought me food and drinks, and left without doing a thing. It might not be a good job, but if you know what you’re doing, you’ll enjoy this place. It is just the hustle,” she explained.

Money for Sweet isn’t bad at all. She claims to make up to N50,000 on good nights, and her rent is N6,000 daily (which is the same for all the sex workers). “If you’re not always owing them, you can ask them to go and come back later,” she said.

Sexual violence is a common experience for many of the young women at Travel Lodge. However, such is not peculiar to them. In 2022, Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a significant rise in rape cases. The World Health Organisation says nearly one in three women (approximately 30 per cent) globally have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner or acquaintance at some point in their lives.

“Be nice to them and they won’t harass you”
On another occasion, Rose, who also works as a caterer at the lodge, explained to Kabir the process of becoming a sex worker at the lodge – be attractive and have the ability to afford the first day’s rental fee upfront. Unlike a white-collar job, you can even define your working hours: Rose has a “15-hours off, 15-hours on.” Like Sweet, Rose also came to the lodge by unfortunate means, as her shop in Lagos got burnt in October, alongside her place of residence. “Everything I do here is to help me provide money for myself until I can get enough money to have my own place again,” she explained.

“My family cannot know about this”
Unlike Sweet and Rose, not everyone arrived at the lodge in tragic circumstances. Some of the women did not become sex workers due to lack of money. One such woman is Faith, whose older sisters reportedly study medicine and law in the UK. Faith also said her mother is a “Nollywood actress.” She said her parents think she works as a receptionist in a Lagos firm.

Faith, however said she is not proud of the work she does. “I can’t even allow my younger sister into this trade,” she said. “She smokes and dresses scantily, but some of the men here are too rough for her tastes. I too, am only here until my sugar daddy is ready to take me away from this place.”

When asked if she considers the possible health implications of sex work, she said she takes precautions. “I just went for an HIV test last month, and I am clean,” she said.

How did the Travellers’ Lodge come to be?

According to Berenice, the lodge has “different stories” of origin, depending on who you ask. “Some will tell you that the building was built in 2018 by a group of businessmen dealing with drugs that saw customers in the surrounding estates [Thomas and Budo Peninsula Estates] and decided that they could sell their products well here, alongside the side attraction of beautiful girls. Other people will say the original owner of the house only built it for cheap accommodation, but along the line, he sold it off to the current owner (Mr Oracle) who saw business in drugs and prostitution and converted it to a brothel,” she said.

Berenice said different classes of women can be found here. Some are between ages 25 and 35, and they are either runaways or businesswomen looking to make extra income, she said. “Others are within 16-22 years, and those ones are either brought by relatives or university girls wanting to make some money before going back to school.”

When asked if she had witnessed sexual harassment at the lodge, she said, “It depends.”

“Sometimes, you have very rough customers who are drunk, and sometimes, if any of the girls have not made a profit in a while, they just have to attend to them. There’s a particular type of woman they like here – either she is “slim-thick” or “orobo”(fat). I am too thin. I wear a cleaner uniform and I am not here at night, so they barely notice me. What they are strict about here is you paying your rent on time.”

Travellers Lodge: Drugs and law enforcement

when I arrived at the lodge as a potential sex worker, I was told to meet with two “assistants.” One was an average-height, skinny, light-skinned man with an eagle haircut in blue traditional attire named Taiye, and the other was a dark, short, rough-looking man with cornrows and ear piercings whose street name was “Expensive Doggie.” His real name was undisclosed. They were long-term residents of the lodge but also part of Oracle, the manager’s team, who helped to gauge incoming guests and see if they could be “accepted” into the lodge.

They instantly took a liking to me, perhaps due to my light skin, and tried to make me feel comfortable. Expensive Doggie was smoking a cannabis t and asked me if I would like to take a whiff, but I humbly refused, stating that it wasn’t “my thing.”

Through conversing with them, I learnt that they also work as retailers in an illegal drug distribution chain from their main suppliers at Lagos mainland. “We sell all kinds of drugs here,” Taiye boasted with a mischievous smile, which revealed a silver tooth, “Meth, Ecstasy, Canadian loud, Codeine, you name it! And it’s authentic too. You will sleep with a smile on your face.”

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) reports that over 14 million Nigerians use illegal drugs, with cannabis being the most commonly abused substance, alongside cocaine and heroin. The current penalties for drug-related offences include imprisonment for ranging from 15 to 25 years for unlawful possession of drugs, while more severe offences may lead to life imprisonment.

I asked them how they were able to flaunt the drugs so publicly in the open: Travellers’ Lodge and the Ajiwe Police Station were only 290 metres apart, and one could have easily made a 4-minute walk to the station to report their crimes. But when I brought this up, the two men laughed in my face. “The DCO in that station is one of our patrons, brothers and our inside man,” Expensive Doggie said. “If there is a raid, it is him that bails us out. Nothing can happen to us,” he said.

Sweet in her conversation with Kabir, also said some policemen dressed in plain clothes visit after work hours to patronise the establishment – and the girls. “I have even had one in my bed before,” she said. “It is a common thing around here.”
“Your age does not matter. All you need is a big body”
The next step in my “initiation” phase after meeting the two lieutenant “assistants” was to meet Oracle, the manager. Now, Oracle is not the easiest person to meet. As the top boss, I needed to speak to the receptionist, who would then call Oracle on the phone. After several occasions of going to the lodge, with no response, I finally got to meet him on a sunny afternoon in a small, dingy room. It was grey both in colour and in ambience, as even though it was clean, the faded nature of the painting on the walls and the wooden cabinets revealed why the room rate would be as low as N6,000. A small LG flat-screen TV was hoisted on the wall. The TV and a wall fan close to it were powered off during my visit. The toilet was very small and the tiles were chipping away.

Oracle was a fair, bubbly, middle-aged-looking man full of life, in a black “AC/DC” slogan T-shirt, brown shorts, and sandals. His eyes had shades of red within their white sockets. We greeted each other and he asked me to state the reason for coming. When I told him I was there to find work, he almost couldn’t believe it. “You look so ajebo. Why are you here? Are you a spy?” he demanded.

When I managed to dissuade his fears, he asked me how old I was, to which I responded, “16.” He said, “That is fine by me. All you need is a big, mature, body.” I then told him that I would think about it, said my thanks, and took my leave.

What the law says about sex work

Nigerian law regarding sex work is complex and varies between regions. While prostitution itself is not expressly criminalized in the Nigerian Constitution, several laws address related activities. For instance, sections 223 and 224 of the Criminal Code prohibit the procurement of women and girls for prostitution, particularly those under the age of eighteen, and impose penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment for offenders. The Federal Capital Territory Penal Code also criminalises solicitation and operating brothels. In northern states, where Sharia law is implemented, prostitution is strictly illegal.

Underage prostitution is treated severely under Nigerian law. The Criminal Code explicitly states that any person who procures a girl under 18 for sexual purposes commits a misdemeanour, punishable by imprisonment. Additionally, trafficking laws in Nigeria prohibit the exportation or importation of minors for the purpose of prostitution, with severe penalties including up to ten years in prison for those found guilty of such offences. Globally, approximately 40 to 42 million sex workers exist worldwide, with 96 per cent being women. The industry generates around $186 billion annually, with significant prevalence in countries like China, India, and the United States.

What have law enforcement agencies done?

To ask about the claim that the police in the area are in cahoots with Travellers Lodge, I called the Divisional Crimes Officer (DCO) of Ajiwe Police Station, Femi Akinpeloye, who ideally, is in charge of criminal investigations in the district. He said that police officers had raided the lodge repeatedly over illicit activities but did not provide further information. He also refused to comment on the allegations levied against his officers. Also, efforts to get an official response from the Travellers Lodge to our findings were unsuccessful. The motel has no official phone number and officials refused to provide the details of Oracle, the manager. A staffer at the facility, named Tobi, said he was “not comfortable responding” to our questions.

Sex work: social right or social menace?

The debate on the decriminalisation of sex work is a complex and nuanced conversation, with arguments on both ends. ers in countries such as Canada believe that sex work should be considered a legitimate job, and hence have influenced policymakers to establish laws to protect their rights. Countries like Belgium have even added benefits such as maternal leave and pensions in labour laws for sex workers. In Nigeria, some sex workers have publicly campaigned for their rights.

Many Nigerians do not the legalisation of sex work. Anthonia Abu, a psychologist, described the experiences of women in such places as Travellers Lodge as a sign of deeper social problems. For her, these women aren’t working here because they want to, but because they feel they have no other choice.

“This breaks down society,” Ms Abu said. “These women are selling something sacred just to survive.”

She said the first step to help such women quit sex work is to help them understand the dangers of their work, especially health risks. “You can’t force them off the streets,” she explained. “They must choose to leave themselves.” Ms Abu said that when women volunteer to change, they’re more likely to succeed.

She also described the societal stigma associated with sex work. “These women are terrified of being judged,” she noted. “Many are too scared to ask for help.”

She described sex workers as “survivors-in-waiting,” looking for the perfect opportunity to transform their lives. “When we them – not just with money, but with love and understanding – they can rebuild their lives,” Ms Abu said. “Most of these women are smart and hardworking. They just need a chance.”

*The names of the sources asterisked in the report have been altered to protect them from harm.

“This story was produced with from the Tiger Eye Foundation under the On Nigeria programme, funded by the MacArthur Foundation.”

https://www.timesng.com/news/headlines/773360-sex-drugs-illegality-inside-the-world-of-ajahs-travellers-lodge.html

Every prostitution house usually gives return to the area police there

Because tell me why have the house survived till now

Hmmmm

Just the way hunger for food and thirst for water come knocking unannounced and must be satisfied, same way Konji come knocking Unannounced irrespective of your location.... And it must be quenched.........

Thats why we have Restaurants and fastfood ts littered everywhere, thats why we have Olosho ts stationed closed to a buzzling area.

We cant cheat Nature except you want to cheat yasef due to ya personal Holy holy

The oldest profession on earth. It will never ever go away. The best thing is to legalise it with age limits, control and tax it. Set up a red light district which can end up being a tourist attraction. For example, De Wallen (Amsterdam) red light district generates over €2.5 billion for the Dutch economy. There's no need being holier than thou about it. It will never go away

All in the name of Enjoyment

Summary

Travellers Lodge in Ajiwe, Lagos, appears to be a modest motel by day but transforms into a hub for sex work, drug distribution, and underage exploitation by night, operating under the guise of a local bar. The lodge is run by a man known as Oracle, with help from lieutenants who also deal illegal drugs, all protected by alleged police corruption from the nearby Ajiwe station.

Undercover investigations revealed harrowing stories of the women working there, many of whom were forced into sex work due to abuse, poverty, or personal tragedy, while others, like Faith, came from affluent backgrounds but led double lives. Despite the Nigerian laws criminalizing underage sex work and trafficking, enforcement appears weak or compromised, with some officers reportedly patronizing the lodge.

Experts argue that while some advocate for sex work legalization, the women in places like Travellers Lodge often feel trapped, highlighting the need for social , legal reform, and protection from exploitation.

Chai !

eastOFwest:
The oldest profession on earth. It will never ever go away. The best thing is to legalise it with age limits, control and tax it. Set up a red light district which can end up being a tourist attraction. For example, De Wallen (Amsterdam) red light district generates over €2.5 billion for the Dutch economy. There's no need being holier than thou about it. It will never go away

You’re on point..

They should legalize weed too. It can generate alot of money..

Story for the little gods

Before NairaLander Red Pillers say this girl below is NLander, another Prophet said the Girlfriend of a Guy would make it Big in future. He too started weeping because he doesn't know which of the numerous girls he hopps in bed with.

Fornication is known as "Agb'Ere" Reaper/Stealer of Glory/Profits. Repent and accept JESUS Purity Spirit as the CONTROLLER of your Life before your Glorious Destiny gets slaughtered in Coven of Fornication.

Like if you Agree that Fornication/Adultery is Evil, Share if not.

Wetin concern law enforcement officers

Sodom and Gomorah are holy in what goes on Ajah, from Alesh to under bridge to Badore.

Okay

Your long epistle is noted.

jaeyking:
Every prostitution house usually gives return to the area police there

Because tell me why have the house survived till now

Only a few would understand this comment 👍

A place where many lives are destroyed receive holiness through jesus

Interestingly I was here a some weeks ago to sleep over after some work. I could not return for another night.

And God still have a way of blessing dem

A lot of weird stuffs are happening in that axis. God have mercy. My friend's cousin who was on IT went to lekki-ajah early morning to resume work as he usually did, in 2023. He's not returned till today. He's a UI student.

There are a lot of untold terrible stories about that place. Sadly, our politicians live in those areas but aren't bothered about what's happening around them. They go to work on escort and return same way. Their homes are heavily guarded by police. Only a very few among the lagos lawmakers live in their constituencies wondering how they can connect with the people who voted them and their plight.

The lady called Faith is lying and so called other olosho's stories. That Faith, none of her relatives studied Medicine, except one has never being into Olosho then believe their stories at your own risk .
Even the names they are called in that Brothel are all fake names.
I have met lots of them, one even told me her mother was a Director at one of the Federal ministry, just because she's is the stubborn type and the reason she try things like this only to discover her mother was at one village at delta state hustling with Mama put. And many lies.

Believe Olosho stories to your own peril.
Lies and Olosho work be like 5 & 6.

From that Law school to badore,lekki Epe Xway,ssangotedo,Awoyaya,Eputu,Elemoro,Igando oloja,imalefalafia nah confam SIN CITY.Only 60% are normal here.The rest are either thieves (burglars, drug dealers ,Prostitutes.Ajah nor dey sleep.Go to Adesanya Estate toward okun Ajah u go see those hawkers . Ajiwe police station is beside this particular prostitute haven.The place wasn't like this when first bank dey there.Chai!

MatrixCircle:
The lady called Faith is lying and so called other olosho's stories. That Faith, none of her relatives studied Medicine, except one has never being into Olosho then believe their stories at your own risk .
Even the names they are called in that Brothel are all fake names.
I have met lots of them, one even told me her mother was a Director at one of the Federal ministry, just because she's is the stubborn type and the reason she try things like this only to discover her mother was at one village at delta state hustling with Mama put. And many lies.

Believe Olosho stories to your own peril.
Lies and Olosho work be like 5 & 6.

💯. You couldn't have said it better

Omihanifa:


https://www.timesng.com/news/headlines/773360-sex-drugs-illegality-inside-the-world-of-ajahs-travellers-lodge.html

every where in Ajah is drugs and illicit sex haven

GeneralPula:


You’re on point..

They should legalize weed too. It can generate alot of money..

And other illicit drugs too. Let share madness countrywide. Our no 1 is even a dealer.

"There are men who come here without even f***ing me. One man came here for two hours, bought me food and drinks, and left without doing a thing. It might not be a good job, but if you know what you’re doing, you’ll enjoy this place. It is just the hustle,” she explained...hmm.

Most of the girls there and those who patronize them are mostly from one particular region of Nigeria. Is either they are pushing drugs or doing some other nefarious activities.

When you start to doing the right things you start to see your fate is in your hand and has been all this while not goverment.

Many nlgerians or people are natural sinners (wrong doers) and sin is a reproach (let down). Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Just transtlate to " change your ways and do what is right so peace and joy will come near you.

Una lack news

Not a Sunday morning reveal

MatrixCircle:
The lady called Faith is lying and so called other olosho's stories. That Faith, none of her relatives studied Medicine, except one has never being into Olosho then believe their stories at your own risk .
Even the names they are called in that Brothel are all fake names.
I have met lots of them, one even told me her mother was a Director at one of the Federal ministry, just because she's is the stubborn type and the reason she try things like this only to discover her mother was at one village at delta state hustling with Mama put. And many lies.

Believe Olosho stories to your own peril.
Lies and Olosho work be like 5 & 6.

You're right. There was one of them, a confirmed olosho in appearance, whom I once met. She politely asked me for help along the road near the shoprite mall. I pulled over and offered to help. Seeing how pretty and clean she was, I wondered what could have happened to her to have resorted to begging. She thought I wanted to carry her and I told her i wasn't interested in all that. I asked questions..she said she's a law student of unijos but dropped out and other stories.

I pitied her and asked for her name which she gave me. She said her name is princess blablabla. I now said ok. Give me your bank details. Guess what, that's when she paused. She reluctantly gave me her real name and I asked why did she have to lie. She pleaded that she gave that name for security reasons. I settled her and she went her way. They tell lies easily and conveniently. No wonder men would die in a hotel after sleeping with them and they'd walk out jejelly and you'd never be able to trace them